MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar new iconic Air Terminal readies for its inauguration

The new terminal also shares facility with Spain

Gibraltar’s new iconic £50m Air Terminal, flagged as an architectural symbol of the Government’s program of infrastructure development and a pivotal piece of the expansion of the local aviation industry, will be opened for viewing to the general public on November 3rd.

The building is also part of the commitments entered into with Spain as a result of the Cordoba Agreement involving UK, Spain and Gibraltar.

The new Air Terminal has attracted unrelenting criticism from the Opposition for the millions of pounds spent on its construction, which in their view, should have been invested in other areas of Gibraltar.

A Gibraltar Government spokesman said: “The general building works in the new passenger air terminal are now practically complete, with the exception of the private aviation facility and the north east corner of the terminal that relates to the future direct access from Spain which Spain has not yet started building. These two parts are internally isolated from the remainder of the terminal and do not affect its operation.

“The terminal, which is already furnished, now enters a period of staff training and commissioning and testing of operating systems and equipment such as computer and building management systems, communications systems, baggage handling systems, and safety and security systems.

“While these take place and before the terminal becomes a security restricted zone in accordance with EU aviation security regulations, there is an opportunity for the general public to view the new terminal”.

Thereafter there will be a gradual process of migration of aviation operations from the old terminal to the new terminal.